What We Watch: Matthew Kramer, Special Projects Engineer

Matthew Kramer is a special projects engineer in WPT’s engineering department. Matthew’s days involve defining and reviewing production workflows, coordinating with producers, directors and other WPT staff to keep track of each show’s many moving pieces, and maintaining WPT’s technology and hardware – from studio cameras to routers and intercom systems.

For the May issue of our member program guide, Airwaves, we caught up with Matthew to learn more about his top public television picks.

Interested in receiving Airwaves in your mailbox? The Airwaves program guide is mailed to supporters who contribute $35 or more to Wisconsin Public Television. Learn more about WPT membership at support.wpt.org.

Can you tell me a little about what your work is like on a daily basis?My position is special projects engineer and I work with the engineering team at Wisconsin Public Television. A lot of my time is spent defining and reviewing workflows. Each production and show we do has a unique set of technical requirements and staff to manage the execution. Part of my role involves interacting with producers, directors and production and engineering staff to document and keep track of all the moving pieces from one show to the next.

I also work on maintaining, installing and decommissioning technology and hardware. This requires a working knowledge of our existing infrastructure like studio cameras, audio equipment, routers, video servers, intercom systems, media and file-based workflows, etc. Technology is constantly changing so it’s important to keep up with what’s coming – to forecast how the tools we use today will change and how that will affect what we do in the future. And as change happens, what is needed to maintain the quality and standards of our past and present.

What is your favorite part of your job at WPT?I’m a proud Wisconsinite and technology related to media production has always fascinated me. I feel very fortunate to have a job that helps to showcase the people, places and history of our state while using really interesting tools to create pictures and sound to tell a story. Also, there’s a very talented group of people who work here and it’s really satisfying to interact with our staff every day.

If you had to pick, what are your favorite PBS shows – and why?I’ve been a fan of FRONTLINE for a long time. I loved the first two seasons of Sherlock. And Austin City Limits is great.

And what are your must-watch WPT shows?It’s in my job description that I must watch a lot of our shows… but I enjoy that. I really like the care and detail used to create Wisconsin Hometown Stories and Tribal Histories.

I also love working on and watching 30-Minute Music Hour.

30-Minute Music Hour

Finally, what’s your favorite thing about public television?My favorite thing about public television is the content and the driven people who produce it.

Tom Kramersays:

Wow!
This is my son! I couldn’t be prouder. He does not brag. He quietly gets the job done! It is not by what I have done but by who Matt is that makes him what he is today.
I am so blessed by the accomplishments and successful achievements of each and every one of my children!

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I'm the Community Education Specialist at Wisconsin Public Television, which means I use your input to create the community events that get your Wisconsin neighbors engaged. I stay out of trouble by doing improv comedy, cooking perfectly edible meals, and accepting compliments on my glasses that people continuously think are new. I actually got them a year ago, but thanks for noticing! Have a thought? Let me know: carol.griskavich@wpt.org

I'm the promotion manager at Wisconsin Public Television. When I'm not letting people know about all of the awesome work the station is doing around the state, you'll find me planning my family's next trip to somewhere fun, warm and likely connected to a Disney Park.

I’m a publicist at Wisconsin Public Television. In my free time, you’ll find me thrift shopping, reading the latest memoir or history book, and watching Independent Lens. I run on coffee and puns. Follow me @JonnaMayberry or email me at jonnatha.mayberry@wpt.org.

I'm the online content editor at Wisconsin Public Television. I make our digital shenanigans compelling, friendly, and interactive so viewers can access great WPT/PBS programming over the air, on the web, on a boat, in a moat, in a box, with a fox. . . you catch my drift. I'd love to hear your ideas! Email me at sigrid.peterson@wpt.org or follow @sigpeterson.

I'm a Wisconsin Public Television publicist as well as the editor of Airwaves, WPT's monthly program guide. When I'm not communing with my computer, I'm reading a book a day on my Kindle app, battling my fellow trivia geeks, dabbling in odd crafts and wrangling one very determined small person. Drop me a line at susannah.brooks@wpt.org.

Wisconsin Public Television is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.